The News Journal (Wilmington, DE) March 9, 2003
SHOWDOWN WITH IRAQ
FIRST IN A SERIES LOOKING AT MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE IRAQI CONFLICT NEXT: JORDAN
QATAR
At a glance
Officially the State of Qatar (KUH-tar), the independent emirate sits on a largely barren peninsula in the Persian Gulf, bordering Saudi Arabia. Oil accounts for about 80 percent of the country's exports. A provisional constitution enacted in 1972 called for elections to the 35-seat advisory council (Shura), but none have been held; council members continue to be appointed by the ruling family. The current emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has worked to democratize the political structure and in 1999 the first-ever elections were held for a municipal council. Women have the right to vote.
GRAPHIC: The sun sets over the minaret of a mosque in Qatar's capital, Doha, in January. Men work in the newsroom of the controversial Al-Jazeera TV in Doha, Qatar.
Map; Stance on Iraq crisis; Ties between the U.S. and Qatar are excellent. President Bush has the country's full backing in the event of war. Qatar and the United States coordinate closely on regional diplomatic initiatives to increase security in the Gulf. The main U.S. military command center for the Middle East, Camp As-Saylihah, is located south of Doha.
A Brief History; Qatar has been inhabited for millennia. In the 19th century, the Bahraini al-Khalifa family dominated.
<0>1868: At the request of Qatari nobles, the British negotiated the termination of the Bahraini claim, except for the payment of tribute.
<0>1872: The tribute ended with the occupation of Qatar by the Ottoman Turks.
<0>1914: When the Turks left, at the beginning of World War I, the British recognized Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani as ruler. The al-Thani family had lived in Qatar for 200 years.
<0>1916: Under the treaty between the United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah, the ruler agreed not to dispose of any of his territory except to Great Britain and not to enter relationships with any other foreign government without British consent. In return, the British promised to protect Qatar from all aggression by sea and to lend assistance in case of a land attack.
<0>1934: A new treaty granted more extensive British protection.
<0>1935: A 75-year oil concession was granted to Qatar Petroleum Co., a subsidiary of the Iraq Petroleum Co., which was owned by Anglo-Dutch, French and U.S. interests.
<0>1940: High-quality oil was discovered at Dukhan, on the western side of the Qatari peninsula. Exploitation was delayed by World War II, and oil exports did not begin until 1949.
<0>1950s and 1960s: Gradually increasing oil production brought prosperity, rapid immigration, substantial social progress, and the beginnings of Qatar's modern history. <0>1968: Great Britain announced a policy of ending the treaty relationships with the Gulf sheikdoms, and Qatar joined the other eight states then under British protection in a plan to form a union of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, however, the nine still had not agreed on terms of union.
<0>Sept. 3, 1971: Qatar sought independence as a separate entity and became the fully independent State of Qatar
Official name: Dawlat Qatar (State of Qatar)
Form of government: Traditional monarchy (emirate); Islamic law is the basis of legislation in the state;
Head of state: Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani;
Area: 4,416 sq.mi. (11,437 sq.km.)
Population: 817,052 (2003 est.)
Capital: Doha;
Monetary unit: Qatari riyal;
Languages: Arabic (official); English widely spoken;
Ethnicity, race: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% Religion: Islam 95%
GDP, PPP (2001 est.): $16.3 billion; per capita $21,200 Arable land: 1%
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish;
Exports: $11 billion: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel;
Imports: $3.5 billion: machinery and transportation equipment, food, chemicals;
Sources: GlobalSecurity.org, CIA World Factbook, 2002
Copyright © 2003, The News Journal (Wilmington, DE)
